The Dallas Mavericks suffered another major injury blow on Tuesday after center Dereck Lively II, on a four-year, $22,282,691 rookie-scale contract, exited the game against the Nikola Jokic-led Denver

DALLAS — Dereck Lively II exited Tuesday's Denver Nuggets- Dallas Mavericks game with a right ankle sprain. The Mavs announced before the second quarter that Lively will not return to the game. Lively has played a pivotal role in the Mavs' recent success, and he will unquestionably be missed for the remainder of the game.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Mavericks center Dereck Lively II received an X-ray for a right ankle sprain suffered Tuesday night against Denver. Results were negative, but no timeline has been established for his return. Lively sustained the ankle injury less than four minutes into the Mavericks' 118-99 loss.

The Mavericks ruled starting center Dereck Lively II out with an ankle sprain just four minutes into their Tuesday game against Denver, the team announced.